Gasochromic dimming mechanism

Abstract

In an aspect of the present invention, a gasochromic dimming mechanism is provided which includes a gasochromic dimming component provided with a pair of transparent substrates, the transparent substrates being arranged to face each other, and a dimming part formed on one or both facing surfaces of the pair of the transparent substrates, wherein an optical property of the dimming part is reversibly changed by hydrogenation and dehydrogenation; and a hydrogen-air mixture gas supply unit that supplies a hydrogen-air mixture gas between the pair of the transparent substrates. The hydrogen-air mixture gas supply unit includes an electrolysis cell including a mixer for mixing hydrogen and air, a polymer electrolyte membrane, a porous electrode formed in the polymer electrolyte membrane as an anode, and an air supply unit that supplies the air to the mixer, the porous electrode being arranged on a flow channel of the air.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A gasochromic dimming mechanism comprising:
 a gasochromic dimming component provided with a pair of transparent substrates, the transparent substrates being arranged to face each other, and a dimming part that is formed on one or both facing surfaces of the pair of the transparent substrates, wherein an optical property of the dimming part is reversibly changed by hydrogenation and dehydrogenation; and 
 a hydrogen-air mixture gas supply unit that supplies a hydrogen-air mixture gas between the pair of the transparent substrates, 
 wherein the hydrogen-air mixture gas supply unit includes a mixer for mixing hydrogen and air; an electrolysis cell including a polymer electrolyte membrane, a porous electrode as an anode, and a cathode; and an air supply unit including a flow channel for supplying the air to the mixer, 
 wherein the porous electrode is attached to the polymer electrolyte membrane, and 
 wherein the porous electrode is disposed on the flow channel for supplying the air so that the porous electrode absorbs water vapor in the air as water. 
 
     
     
       2. The gasochromic dimming mechanism according to  claim 1 , wherein the hydrogen-air mixture gas supply unit further includes a hydrogen collection and supply unit that collects hydrogen generated at the cathode of the polymer electrolyte membrane and that supplies hydrogen to the mixer. 
     
     
       3. The gasochromic dimming mechanism according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a water collection unit that collects water generated at the cathode of the polymer electrolyte membrane. 
 
     
     
       4. The gasochromic dimming mechanism according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a heat collection and heating unit that collects heat generated at the electrolysis cell and that heats the dimming part.